Powder distributor



May 26, 1931. w. s. FINNELL POWDER DISTRIBUTOR Filed July 1, 1927 Patented May 26, 1931 stares rarest WALTERS. FINNELI, OF HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO FINNELL SYSTEM, INC-Q OF HAN NIBAL, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE POWDER DISTRIBUTOR Application filed July l, 1927. Serial No. 202,908.

My invention relates to powder distribut ing devices and has to do particularly with apparatus for deliveringa cleansing, or the like, powder to a floor for subsequent treatment.

An object of my invention is to provide a.

same evenly over thefloor surface at selected,

periods whereby wasting of the powder is eliminated and subsequent .floor treatments are facilitated.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side elevated view of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the structure of Fig. 1 with the cover in open position andthe handle being shown only in part; 1

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the discharge outlets closed;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken sub stantially on line 44 of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. i and showing the discharge outlets open.

. Referring to the drawings, the container 1 is formed with end walls l downwardly converging side walls 1 and a rounded bottom 1 formed, preferably, by extending the sides 1 A lid 2 is connected to the top of the container by hinges 3 and is provided with downwardly extending flanges 2 which tightly grasp the top of the container when the lid is closed and prevent escape of the powder during operation. The hinged side of thecover'which is at the front is extended to receive a. rubber bumper 4 to prevent marring of objects with which it may contact. I

The inner walls near the top of the container are provided with inwardly projecting ledges 5 which support a suitable screen 6 through which the powder material is sifted to prevent foreign objects from passing through to the mechanism in the lower part of the container and interfering with the hereinafter described feeding operations.

. An important feature of my invention is the control of the powder feed by movement of the container, 1 along and upon the floor so that the powder may be delivered only when the apparatus is in use. To this end,

the container is supported for movement along the floor by a pair of wheels 7 fixed to the outer ends ef a shaft .8 rotatably carried by suitable bearings 9 which pass through and are secured to the end walls 1 (Fig. 4). The semi-circular bottom 1 is provided with a centrally disposed row of equally spaced transverse discharge slots lOthrough which the powder is fed to the surface under treatment. 1, preferably, employ four of these slots, but it is to be understood that the number may be varied to suit the preference of the user. In order to positively effect the proper delivery of the powder and to evenly distribute the same on the floor without waste as the container is wheeled along, I mount a feeder upon the shaft 8 such feeder comprising oppositely carried spiral blades 11 fixed upon the shaft 8 by supports 12 sothat these blades .will rotate as a unit with such shaft. The shaft 8 and blades 11 are carried immediately above and in close proximity to the discharge openings and, in a well understood -manner, each blade during each revolution of the shaft moves across the openings 10; one after another. The rotatlng blades 11 serve to agitate the powder so that it will p ass freely to the discharge openings withoutclogging,

as well as feed thesame through such openings in a positive and uniform manner. Fun thermore, slnce the movement of the blades is controlled by movement of the container 1 along the floor, feeding will not take place except when the apparatus'is in use, and then provided the discharge outlets are open as will be described.

To further control the delivery of the powder through the discharge slots 10 to prevent waste of the powder when the apparatus is at rest or when it is desired to move the same from place toplace, as from room to room or building to building, on its supporting wheels 7 without distributing the powder, I provide a curved cover 13. This cover is of such size as to cover substantially the entire bottom in its closed position and is formed of thin flexible metal so that it will readily flex and conform to the exterior shape of the bottom as it is moved back and forth. t is supported during such movement in guide-ways 1% formed, referably, by extending the ends 1 downwardly and inwardly, the guide-ways being such width as to fr cly permit the sliding movement but to hold the cover in snug engagement with the bottom 1 during such movement.

Movement of the cover is effected by a control rod 15 which is attached to a plate 16 pivotally connected t the cover at 17 (Fig. 5). The outer one of the rod 15 looped to enable the same to be readily grasped by the L 1 L 1 Y operator. inis rod 1S slidably supported by the handle 18 which has arns 19 fastened to the container by bolts 20 for moving it along the floor. The bolts 20 also, preferably, serve to hold the bearings 9 in place. A spring 21 is so mounted upon such rod 15 between the support 22 and spring retainer 23 that it is compressed when the rod is moved to open the cover and will move the rod and cover to their closed positions when the rod is released by the operator.

In use when it is desired to distribute the powder upon the floor, the rod 15 is moved toward the operator and the openings 10 uncovered. As the apparatus is wheeled along the feeder agitates and moves the powder to and through the openings 10 in definite quantities and in uniform succession in an obvious manner so that the powder is evenly distributed upon the floor. The feed may be slow or fast dependent upon the movement of the container and the discharge openings may be fully or partially uncovered, dependent upon the amount of the powder it is desired to distribute, by manipulation of the rod 15. At any time it is desired to cut off the feed, the rod 15 is released by the operator and the spring 21 moves the cover to its closed position, thus permitting the apparatus to be moved along without wasting of the powder.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a highly efiicient powder distributor which deposits the powder evenly in proper quantities upon the floor and which is exceedingly easy to operate. Its use facilitates and reduces the cost of the subsequent floor treating operations.

While the apparatus described is particularly adapted to delivering a cleansin powder for subsequent hand or powder scrubbing operations, it is to be understood that my invention may be used in connection with other floor or surface treatments where a powder material is to be distributed; and although I have shown and described only one embodiment of my invention, yet it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a powder distributor, a container having a bottom portion semi-circular in cross section with a series of centrally located discharge slots along its lowermost part adapted to discl arge directly to the floor, a shaft 'rot ably mounted in and passing through sa L bottom portion, wheels mounted on the outer ends of said shaft for supa and moving said container along the floor, and a feeder operated by said shaft as said con" nor is moved along the floor, said feeder comprising oppositely arranged and fiat spirally-shaped blades fixed upon said shaft in cylindrical relation thereto, each of said blades having its edge surface adapted to wine toward and pass over said slots successively and in close proximity thereto to positively and uniformly deliver the powder to and tlrrmgh the same in definite quantities said container is moved along the loor 9.. v a p wder distributor, the combinaa container having a plurality of dis- 7 open gs 1n the bottom thereof, a roshat passing through said container e said openings, supporting wheels fixed to the ends of said shaft, and a pair of oppo ely disposed fiat spiral blades fixed to said 1 in yliudrical relation thereto, "h blade adapted to windin ly pass over openings successively and in close pro):- imity thereto as said container is moved along.

3. In a powder distributor. the combination of a container having a plurality of discharge openings in the bottom thereof, a rotatable shaft passing through said container above said openings, supporting wheels fixed to the ends of said shaft, and a feeder comprising a plurality of flat spiral blades fixed to said shaft in cylindrical relation thereto, said blades being spaced from each other and from the shaft, whereby the material may circulate freely through the feeder.

at. In a powder distributor, the combination of a container having a plurality of discharge openings in the bottom thereof, a rotata ale shaft passing through said container above said openings, supporting wheels fixed to the ends of said shaft, and a feeder comprising a pair of oppositely disposed flat spiral blades fixed to said shaft in cylindrical relation thereto, said blades being spaced from each other and from the shaft, whereby the material may circulate freely through the feeder.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

lVALTER S. FINNELL. 

